Compare towns
Putnam vs Quinebaug vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Thompson has the most expensive homes ($292k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Putnam | Quinebaug | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,120 |
1,193Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
-1.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8% CT: 42.5% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$105,181±$36kHighest 10% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13k 33% below CT |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43Highest 23% below CT |
— | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Putnam and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,703 44% below CT |
$3,822Highest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.


